Jagat

This section is split between a discussion of additional devotional activities that are included in  pāda-sevanam , namely living in the Dham (281.1), worshiping Tulasi Devi (281,2) before turning to arcana, which continues over the next few sections, including an important discussion of  necessity for  dīkṣā   (281,4). This is where the idea of taking initiation in order to establish a "particular  or specific relationship." (283.3) Anuccheda 283 Pāda-sevā (Concluded) and Arcanam 283.1 Living in holy places अत्र पादसेवायां श्रीमूर्तिदर्शनस्पर्शपरिक्रमानुव्रजनभगवन्मन्दिरगङ्गापुरुषोत्तमद्वारकामथुरादितदीयतीर्थस्थान- गमनादयोऽप्यन्तर्भाव्याः, तत्परिकरप्रायत्वात्। यावज्जीवं तन्मन्दिरादिनिवासस्तु शरणापत्तावन्तर्भवति। गङ्गादीनां तत्स्थप्राणिवृन्दानां च परमभागवतत्वमेवेति पक्षे तु तत्सेवादिकं महत्सेवादावेव पर्यवस्यति। ततो गङ्गादिष्वपि भक्तिनिदानत्वं भवेत्। Devotional activities, such as beholding, touching and circumambulating the deity, following...

The Parikrama Marg in Vrindavan in 1974. Photo by Vishakha Dasi from Back to Godhead . The comments I write on these verses are based on the inspiration and mood of the moment. Here I myself slip from Prabodhananda's world to that of the present time. In fact, I believe that is part of the exercise that Prabodhananda is very definitely leading us on. This is being discussed here under the rubric of the bhauma Vrindavan, as it appears to us now in its current worldly manifestation, the lila that the Dham is having and that we, in contact with the Dham, are having. Lila means the story. A story begins with a vision, a revelation if you will, and then proceeds as the battle to give real shape to that revelation is undertaken. Rasa is success in achieving that vision. Underlying all visions is that of love, the cherished fantasy of "true love." This is what lies in the nitya-Vrindavan's innermost sanctum sanctorum. vāpī-kūpa-taḍāga-koṭibhir aho divyāmṛtābhir yuta...